Turf Offers a New Test in New York Stallion Stakes

Switching from dirt to turf will be the order of the day June 23 at Belmont Park with a pair of $150,000 New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds featuring standout performers on the main track.

Both the NYSS Spectacular Bid and NYSS Cupecoy's Joy for fillies are scheduled for seven furlongs on Belmont Park's Widener turf course, a premise that seems laughable during a week in New York filled with enough gray skies and rain to make Noah feel right at home. Yet forecasts call for sunny weather this weekend, putting both Blindwillie McTell and the undefeated Newly Minted in the likely position of having to switch off their preferred surface.

Jerry Zaro homebred Blindwillie McTell enters the Spectacular Bid with a record of three wins and two seconds from five starts, all on dirt, for trainer Linda Rice. In his previous start, the son of Posse posted a two-length victory over Funny Guy in the Mike Lee Stakes for state-breds May 27 at Belmont.

"We're taking the path of least resistance," Rice said. "The open company water is pretty deep, so it's worth a try. We can stay against New York-breds from here to (Saratoga Race Course) to the ($250,000) Albany Stakes (Aug. 23)."

Blindwillie McTell has worked on turf twice in preparation for Sunday's stakes, covering four furlongs in :49.70 June 16 (the 16th-fastest of 18 works at the distance) and four furlongs in :48.48 June 9 (second of 19).

Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable, and Swick Stable's Funny Guy is also untested on turf but owns two wins in six starts and won a NYSS stakes April 20 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Also among the field of 11, plus one main track only entrant, is Patricia Generazio's Veterans Beach, who is coming off a second in a state-bred allowance race in his 3-year-old debut. The Big Brown colt was third in the Laurel Futurity on turf last year.

The Cupecoy's Joy features Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Newly Minted, who is undefeated in three starts, all on dirt. The daughter of Central Banker  won the Bouwerie Stakes for state-breds and a NYSS stakes in her past two tries for Rice.

"The Central Bankers have been running well on grass," Rice said. "I breezed her on the turf the other day, and she seemed to handle it pretty well, so we're giving it a go."

Newly Minted put in a bullet four-furlong turf breeze in :48.48 June 16 at Belmont.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, the bay filly is by the Bernardini  mare Newbie and was bought for $110,000 from the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

The field of eight includes only two starters with a victory on turf, and both are daughters of Central Banker. Sackatoga Stable's Niko's Dream won a maiden special weight race on turf May 19 at Belmont, and Happy Face Racing Stable's Funny Money Honey took a $40,000 maiden claimer May 10 at Belmont.